Songs

Virginia Rails are particularly vocal in the spring. The birds give a repeated tick-it in the hours surrounding dawn and dusk; this vocalization is thought to be made only by males. Females and males also sing a kick-er that has a stuttering quality to it.

Calls

A long sequence of piglike grunts that tends to trail off at the end emanates from many a wetland in spring. Males and females perform duetting grunts to defend their territories and to communicate with each other throughout the breeding season.